Chapter 6
Being a manager was a painful job.
Every day, you had to build connections, maintain the fan support clubs of the artists under you, and clean up whatever messes they caused. You spent every day on edge, terrified that an artist you had finally managed to build up would suddenly have some career-destroying scandal.
But Sister Ji didn’t have that particular problem, because Zhai You was a rich second-generation heiress. If she didn’t have resources, she simply threw money at the problem.
A fan support club? What a joke. She didn’t have one at all.
As for the messes Zhai You caused… those really did come by the basketful. You could see them happening practically every moment of every day. But Zhai You wasn’t the kind of person who cared about negative comments online. She could simply pretend she hadn’t seen any of them.
So being a manager was painful, but being Zhai You’s manager was actually fairly easy.
Originally, that was how things had been…
“Director Guo, I heard you’re planning to film at No. 1 High School? That place must be pretty difficult to get into, right?” Sister Ji put on her friendliest smile, attempting to build rapport.
Director Guo grew annoyed the moment he saw Sister Ji, but the smile on his face was even friendlier than hers.
The two of them seemed determined to outshine each other with the brightest smiles possible.
A crew member passing by suddenly had the urge to walk over and kick both old foxes.
Couldn’t they just get to the point? Those smiles were so creepy that even accidentally glancing at them sent chills down his spine.
Director Guo nodded. “No. 1 High School has the environment that fits the story best, but their principal says we can’t interfere with the students’ studies, so they’ve refused to agree. We’re contacting No. 8 High School now.”
Sister Ji said, “You haven’t discussed it carefully with them? If the drama becomes popular, it could help No. 1 High School with enrollment too.”
Hearing this, Director Guo gave her a sidelong glance and thought, Whether this drama can become popular or not—don’t you already know?
With someone like Zhai You joining the cast, even if it became popular, the negative impact would still be huge. It would be strange if No. 1 High School’s principal agreed.
Of course, he didn’t dare say that aloud. Zhai You had brought in a massive investment, and he couldn’t afford to offend her.
If No. 1 High School’s principal refused, they could simply switch schools. But if Zhai You withdrew her investment, finding a new investor wouldn’t be nearly as easy.
It was all because of money.
Director Guo couldn’t quite suppress the irritation in his heart. “Sister Ji must be pretty busy too. What brings you all the way here to contact me? If there’s something you need, just say it. If I can help, I will. No need to be polite.”
“Hehe…” Sister Ji could hear perfectly well that he didn’t want her here, but there was nothing she could do about it.
Who could blame Zhai You for having such a terrible reputation and being so hopeless?
“I heard the screenwriter is very interested in Jiang Bailu?” Sister Ji got straight to the point as well.
Director Guo paused, remembering the rumors he had heard.
The reason Zhai You had invested in the production was supposedly to block Jiang Bailu.
At a banquet, Zhai You had taken a liking to Jiang Bailu at first sight and immediately sent someone to investigate her. After learning that Jiang Bailu was merely an unknown minor actress, Zhai You developed indecent intentions toward her.
First, she promised Jiang Bailu resources in exchange for agreeing to become her kept woman.
But Jiang Bailu wasn’t the kind of person who wanted to use her body to climb the ranks, so she decisively refused.
After being rejected, Zhai You’s expression had turned ugly, and she decided to force Jiang Bailu into a desperate situation before making her submit.
So she threw money around to block Jiang Bailu’s path in the entertainment industry and eventually became an investor in Deliberate Love.
Looking at everything she had done in sequence, it wasn’t difficult to guess what Zhai You was thinking.
Director Guo and the screenwriter, Luo Yin, had discussed the matter before. Luo Yin genuinely liked Jiang Bailu for the role because Deliberate Love had a school setting, and Jiang Bailu’s image suited a campus drama perfectly.
But no one was going to turn down investment money. After discussing it, they could only helplessly agree.
When Zhai You later said she wanted to act in the drama herself, they had only planned to offer her a few minor roles to choose from.
Jiang Bailu’s image suited a school setting very well, whereas Zhai You’s scorching beauty looked completely out of place in one.
Putting Zhai You in a school would look like something the administration should issue a disciplinary notice over. She would distract all the other students from studying. It was far too unrealistic.
When Sister Ji arrived, Director Guo had assumed Zhai You was dissatisfied with the roles offered to her.
But from the sound of things now, was she only here to issue another warning? Although Director Guo had seen plenty of such dirty dealings, he still despised them from the bottom of his heart. His face darkened as he reluctantly said, “There’s no such thing.”
Sister Ji froze.
Uh…
She had thought that if the screenwriter liked Jiang Bailu, things would be much easier.
Now what was she supposed to do…?
“What is it?” Director Guo picked up a notebook and casually flipped it open.
“Director Guo.” Sister Ji pursed her lips. “If I said we wanted to arrange for Jiang Bailu to play one of the main roles in the drama, what would you think?”
“……”
What would he think?
That the whole world should celebrate, that he was beside himself with joy, that he wanted to applaud and shout his approval?
Director Guo was completely dumbfounded. He almost thought he was dreaming.
What an exciting dream this was.
Sister Ji sighed. “To be honest, I also think Jiang Bailu is a very hardworking girl. It’s a pity she isn’t one of my artists. Otherwise, I’d definitely fight hard to get her this opportunity.”
The moment Director Guo heard that, he thought, No, don’t stop there! Fight a little harder!
Don’t fear Zhai You’s power! Just do what your heart tells you!
In his agitation, he suddenly felt as though the chair beneath him was digging into his backside, leaving him unable to sit still.
“I discussed it with Zhai You. She said unless Jiang Bailu has the ability to play the female lead…” After Sister Ji finished, she lifted her eyes to observe Director Guo’s reaction.
“Great!” Director Guo slapped his knee.
“……”
“Ahem. What I mean is, since you’ve already said that, Sister Ji, I’ll discuss it with Luo Yin later. It’s just that the female lead…”
“The female lead is an Alpha. Isn’t Jiang Bailu an Omega?”
Sister Ji: Exactly. That was why she couldn’t understand what Zhai You was thinking either.
*
“I’ll take you home.”
Jiang Bailu’s brows and eyes were gentle, a faint sickly flush coloring her fair face.
The two stood on the street. Whenever passersby caught sight of Zhai You’s dazzlingly beautiful face, their first instinct was to assume she was bullying Jiang Bailu.
Zhai You’s expression turned strange as she stiffly turned her head toward the luxury car.
It wasn’t like she was trying to bully anyone.
“Let’s go to the hospital first.” Jiang Bailu was sick, so she could get checked out while they were there.
Before Jiang Bailu could politely refuse, Zhai You quickly added,
“Your mother’s medical bills are still overdue, right? I might as well go pay them while we’re there. That’s part of what I’m supposed to fulfill under the contract. Of course, if you don’t think it’s urgent, that’s fine too.”
Jiang Bailu froze for a moment, gripping the car keys tightly in her hand.
Then she remembered they belonged to Zhai You and loosened her grip. “Then we’ll go to the hospital first, and afterward I’ll take you home.”
“Mm.”
Zhai You got into the passenger seat and let Jiang Bailu drive.
Perhaps it had something to do with Jiang Bailu’s personality, but she drove very steadily, giving Zhai You more than one opportunity to turn her head and look at her.
Light and shadow fell across Jiang Bailu’s eyelashes, making them look like fluttering butterfly wings.
She was still wary of Zhai You, though she didn’t show it very obviously. Once Zhai You noticed that, no matter how much she wanted to start a conversation, she kept silent.
Seeing Jiang Bailu concentrating on driving, Zhai You finally allowed herself to stare without restraint.
Jiang Bailu had delicate features, and her gaze was soft and flowing like water. Someone this gentle and tender—it was no wonder she had become the unforgettable white moonlight of the righteous love interest.
She really was the most beautiful kind of existence.
Unfortunately, in the book, she had encountered someone like the original owner.
Under humiliation and ridicule, she had been forced to reveal her most miserable side. Yet even in such a wretched state, she had still been so beautiful.
Someone like her…
Was far too perfect for bullying.
Zhai You silently stared at Jiang Bailu, failing to notice the way Jiang Bailu’s fingers nervously tightened around the steering wheel, her lips pressed firmly together, and her back rigidly straight.
When the car finally reached the hospital, Jiang Bailu let out an almost imperceptible breath of relief. “We’re here.”
“Okay.” Zhai You got out of the car and instinctively walked around to the other side to open the door for Jiang Bailu.
Jiang Bailu had just finished checking that the car was properly parked and was in the middle of unfastening her seat belt when she saw Zhai You standing outside the door, which had already been opened for her.
She looked up in surprise and unconsciously frowned.
Why was Zhai You doing this?
An enemy clearly harbored bad intentions, yet she kept doing kind things. Jiang Bailu bit her lip. “You don’t need to do this.”
Her kindness rejected, Zhai You wasn’t particularly hurt or upset. She was also blaming herself for being too abrupt.
Tsk.
Annoying.
“Hurry up. I still have things to do later,” she urged, one hand resting on the car door as though she were ready to slam it shut at any moment.
Only then did Jiang Bailu’s concerns disappear. She assumed Zhai You was simply annoyed that she was moving too slowly.
This was the Zhai You she was familiar with.
Jiang Bailu pressed her lips together and stopped talking, walking straight toward the payment counter.
Only after watching Zhai You pay off all the previously overdue medical bills and even cover the upcoming surgery fees did Jiang Bailu finally relax completely.
No matter what Zhai You intended to do, at least her mother’s life had finally been saved.
She would do her best to repay this kindness to Zhai You.
“All right. Here, this is for you.” Zhai You handed the registration slip to Jiang Bailu.
“Why are you giving this to me…” Jiang Bailu didn’t understand, but she accepted it anyway, looking at Zhai You with eyes full of confusion.
“You’re sick. Aren’t you going to get checked?” After saying this, Zhai You continued pretending to look irritated as she frowned. “I still have things I need you to do. Don’t drag around that sickly body and cause me trouble.”
Sure enough, Jiang Bailu no longer had any objections.
Zhai You: “……”
She accompanied Jiang Bailu while they waited in line. After waiting for quite a while, Jiang Bailu asked in confusion again, “Aren’t you going home?”
Zhai You glanced at Jiang Bailu’s pocket, which contained her car keys.
Jiang Bailu immediately understood and took them out to return them to her, but Zhai You didn’t accept them. Instead, she turned her head and continued watching the other patients waiting for their numbers to be called.
What would she take them back for? Did she actually have the ability to drive home?
She did not.
Completely incapable, Zhai You pretended not to know anything, kept her eyes straight ahead, and stubbornly refused to expose herself even if it killed her.
At that moment, Jiang Bailu could suddenly empathize with the assistant.
Zhai You really was difficult to serve.
But when she thought about how much money Zhai You had spent, Jiang Bailu decided that difficult was fine.
“Once I’m done seeing the doctor, I’ll take you home,” Jiang Bailu said gently, her tone especially mild.
“Take me home?” Zhai You seemed dissatisfied.
She turned her head, her bright eyes fixed on Jiang Bailu, and enunciated every word very clearly.
“You married me. If you’re not coming home with me, where exactly are you planning to go?”
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